Removable closure for hollow stay-bolts.



No. 773,801. PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904! H. G. TIDBMANN' REMOVABLE CLOSURE FOR HOLLOW STAY BOLTS.

"APPLICATION FILED APR.30.19O4.

NO MODEL.

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UNITED STATES :atenteq October 25, 1904.

PATENT OEEicE.

REMOVABLE CLOSURE FOR HOLLOW STAY-BOLTS- SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,3J1, dated October 25, 1904.

Application filed .rpril 30, 1904. Serial No. 205,758. (No model-1 To all 70 1,0711, it may concern: I

Be it known that I, HENRY G. TIDEMANN,a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Removable Glosures for Hollow Stay-Bolts, of which the following is a full. clear,- and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1' is a perspective view of a portion of a boiler-head and stay-bolt, showing the application of my invention, the cleaning device being illustrated as about'to enter the plug. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a portion of a stay-bolt and through the plug. Fig. 8 is a divided sectional view through the plug, the valve being removed. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 41 4 of Fig. 2, the valve being shown in elevation. Fig. 5 is a disassociated Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a slightly-modified form of plug. Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of one of the companion parts of a modified form of plug, the valve being illustrated in section; and Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the completed modified form of plug.

This invention relates to steam-boilers; and one of the objects is to provide means whereby the hollow stay-bolts can be effectually closed, the closure being so constructed that a cleaning device may be inserted through the stay-bolts to remove any foreign substance from the interior walls of the stay-bolts and from the exterior walls of the boiler-tubes.

Heretofore it has been the practice where boilers are provided with hollow stay-bolts to introduce plugs, usually of wood, to exclude the cold air, so as to prevent it from entering into the boiler through the stay-bolts, and thus chilling the boiler-tubes. Inasmuch as it is desirable that the interior of 'the staybolts and the exterior of the boiler-tubes be cleaned at frequent intervals, the frequent removal of the plugs causes much inconvenience.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a plug which will permit the introduction of the cleaning device and automatically close the cleaning-device-receiving portion when the cleaning device is removed.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be specifically referred to hereinafter, it being understood that minor changes in the form, proportion, and details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference, 1 designates one end sheet of a water-leg boiler in which is provided a suit able hollow stay-bolt 2.

3 is a valved plug for normally closing the bore in thestay-bolt, which plug is provided with an entering portion and a cleaner-receiving end, the entering portion being designed to frictionally engage the edges of the opening which it normally closes.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 the hollow plug 3 is shown as comprising two companion parts 1 and 5, said parts being so arranged as to receive a valve 6', which will normally close the straight passage 7 in axial alinement with the bore of the hollow staybolt. The plug is illustrated as having a head provided with a valve-receiving recess 8, into which the valve may recede upon introduction of the cleaning deviceas, for example, the steam-nozzle 9. Inasmuch as the valve is pivoted above the bottom of the hollow plug, the normal tendency will be for the free end to gravitate toward the bottom and automatically close the plug when the cleaning device is not cooperating therewith.

The convenient form of plug illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 consists of the two companion parts, one of which is provided with tongues 10, adapted to enter recesses 11 in theother part, the recesses 11 forming bearings 12 for the journals 13 of the valve 6.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 the vertically-separatedcompanion partsl i and 15 are provided with recesses and corresponding projections 16 and 17, respectively. These companion parts 1 1 and 15 are also formed with journalsfor the gravitating valve 6, the operation being substantially alike in both forms. In actual practice I prefer to cast the companion parts of the plug, although it is obvious that they may be formed of pressed steel, if desired.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the swinging valve will permit the cleaning device to be inserted through the receivingopening of the plug, so that a jet of steam may be forced through the hollow stay-bolts to contact with the nest of boiler-tubes and remove any foreign matter therefrom. The removal of the cleaner will permit the valve to immediately gravitate to a closed position, so as to effectually cut off the admission of air into the furnace through the stay-bolts.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. A removable plug forming a closure for hollow-stavbolt openings, the same comprising a hollow entering portion, a head on the outer end thereof, said head having a chamher, said chamber being in communication with the bore of the entering portion, and a valve for closing the opening through the plug; substantially as described.

2. A device forming a closure for hollowstay-bolt openings comprising a divided hollow plug having an entering portion for contact with the inner walls of the stay-bolt, whereby the divided members of the plug will be intimately connected, and a valve in the plug; substantially as described.

3. A removable plug forming a closure for hollow-stay-bolt openings, the same comprising a hollow tubular portion having a straight bore in axial alinement with the stay-bolt, and a valve for closing the opening through the plug; substantially as described.

4:. A removable plug forming a closure for hollow-stay-bolt openings, the same com prising a hollow tubular member having an entering portion for engagement with the staybolt and provided with a recess, and a valve for normally closing the opening in the plug, said valve being temporarily retractable Within the recess; substantially as described.

5. A device for closing a hollow stay-bolt comprising a valved hollow plug, substantially as described.

6. A device for closing hollow-stay-bolt openings comprising a hollow plug having a gravitating valve for closing the opening in the plug; substantially as described.

7. A device for closing hollow-stay-bolt openings comprising a hollow plug having an entering portion, a cleaner-receiving portion, and a valve for closing communication between the entering portion and the cleaner-receiving portion; substantially as described.

8. A device for closing hollow-stay-bolt openings comprising separate parts having portions for engagement with the inner walls of the stay-bolts, whereby they will be held together; substantially as described.

9. A device for closing hollow-stay-bolt openings comprising a tubular plug having an entering portion, a recessed portion, and a valve carried in the recessed portion for normally closing the opening in the plug and temporarily retractable within the recess; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 28th day of April, 1904:.

HENRY Gr. TIDEMANN.

WVitnesscs:

I. BURCH, GEORGE BAKEWELL. 

